Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1905. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... In one, females are represented as placing shells containing food or drink on graves. For the purpose of forming these shells into drinking vessels, the whorl--columella--and about one-half of the outer shell are removed. Specimens of the Busycon perversum thus prepared have been found from ten to twelve inches in length and from six to seven in width at the widest point, forming cups of considerable capacity. Specimens of the Strombus, Cassis, and Fascialaria have also been found, showing that they were occasionally used for the same purpose. Specimens of the Busycon have been found in mounds as far north as the headwaters of the Mississippi; however, they are confined chiefly to the Southern States. While the large univalves were made to do service as drinking vessels, they were used also, as will appear, for other purposes; the bivalves were also brought into use in several ways. They were made to answer for spoons, by carving out a kind of handle. This was done by cutting away portions of the anterior and basal margins of the shell and leaving the angle projecting, which was slightly ornamented by notching. Various species of Unto, as the alatus, ovatus, etc., were used for this purpose. Other and heavier species of Unit were used as scrapers, to scrape up earth in cultivating corn, as skin dressers, in scaling fish, and for other purposes. They were very often used without any preparation, but were more frequently fastened to a handle. It is stated by an early writer of New England that: "Before the Indians learned of the English the use of a more convenient instrument, they tilled their corn with hoes made of these [clam] shells, to which purpose they are well adapted by their size." Another and rather strange use of shells is mentioned by early writers, which...